Elevator



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Patented Dee. 7,1897.

(No Model.)

G. WESTINGHOUSE, Jr. ELEVATOR.

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(No Model.)

G. WESTINGHOUSE, J1".

ELEVATOR.

Patented Deo. 7,1897.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 3 No Model.)

G. WESTINGHOUSE, JI.

ELEVATOR.

Patented Deo. 7, 1897.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets- Sheet 4.

G. WESTINGHOUSB, Jr.

ELBVATOR.

No. 595,007. Patented Dec. 7,1897.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

G. WESTINGHOUSB, Jr. BLBVATOR.

No.`595,007. Patented Deo. 7,1897.

ATTORNEY.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE VESTINGHOUSE, JR., OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,007, dated December 7, 1897.

Application ilerl January 3, 1896. Serial No. 574,243. (No model.)

To all whom, it' may concern/ Be it known that I, GEORGE Wnsrmc- HOUSE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators, (Case No. 678,) of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for operating elevators, and more particularly to mechanism of this character which produces and utilizes hydraulic pressure or a combination of hydraulic and pneumatic pressure.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, and efficient apparatus which may be easily operated and controlled and which shall have certain characteristics and advantages not found in apparatus heretofore constructed and used for this purpose.

Among the advantages incident to the use of my invention are the following:

First. The apparatus, with the exception of the lifting-cables and sheaves, may be compactly arranged and located in the basement of the building in Which the elevator is run.

Second. Only the energy required to lift the load is expended.

Third. The power of the descending load is utilized.

Fourth. The starting and stopping of a long Water column and the consequent Waterhammer effects, which are incident to the hydraulic elevators usually employed, are avoided.

Fifth. The usual counterweight and rope are replaced by a counterbalance Which varies to suit the changing load.

Sixth. All shocks and strains due to sudden starting and stopping are guard ed against and avoided.

Seventh. The movement of the elevatorcar is arrested by an automatic cut-oif of the hydraulic pressure when the car reaches either the top or bottom iioor of the build-ing in which it is used.

Hydraulic elevator mechanisms heretofore employed have embodied an operating-cylinder, a water-storage tank having a head or pressure sufficient to start and raise the maximum load, and expensive boilers and pump ing machinery for raising the column of Water after it has done its Work in lifting the elevator. Each elevator as usually constructed has also been provided With a Weight to counterbalance the weight of the car and those portions of the lifting ropes or cables which are between the upper supporting and guiding sheaves and the car. I propose to operate the elevator-car by means of a rotary pump, which may be constantly driven in one direction, and to start, stop, and vary the speed of the elevator by so ad j usting the pump that it will force the desired volume of Water either from the supply-tank to the hydraulic cylinder or from the cylinder to the tank, or stop the flow of Water altogether without any change in the direction of rotation of the pump-shaft and preferably Without any change in the speed of the same, though my means of control is practically independent of the speed of such shaft. I propose also to provide a counterbalance for the elevator, which shall automatically vary in accordance With variations in load due to the position of the elevator-car. Inasmuch as the combined Weight of the car and the ropes attached thereto decreases as the car rises, such a variable counterbalance is important and desirable. In a hydraulic elevator constructed in accordance With my invention this result maybe accomplished by means of the Weight of the Water in the tank which feeds the lifting apparatus if the tank is vertically arranged and sufliciently above the hydraulic cylinder, so that the column of Water When the car is down Will properly counterbalance the same and the Weight of the ropes between it and the upper sheaves. As the car ascends the level of the Water in this supply-tank will descend, and if the size and location of the tank and the quantity of Water are properly proportioned the degree of pressure exerted Will de- 7 IOO by the column of Water may be increased, so

for transferring the water from the tank to the hydraulic cylinder, the pressure exerted that it will amount to approximately one-half the average load of the elevator, if desired. In such case the pump will exert the required pressure upon the hydraulic piston with less eort. When the elevator descends, however, the pump will have to do Work in forcing the water from the hydraulic cylinder into the supply-tank. .By such an arrangement a less powerful motor may be employed to operate the elevator than would otherwise be necessary.

Reference being now had to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of my elevator-operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of a portion of my elevator-operating mechanism, parts of the apparatus being broken away in order to show the pump-- governing mechanism and valves upon a large y Y Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse :section through the entire apparatus, the upper portion of the supply-tank being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, drawn to a smaller scale, of an elevator equipped with my oper.- ating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the pump. Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrams of modifications in which a plurality of vertically-arranged supply-tanks and an equal number of pumps, valves,and vertically-arranged cylinders are employed.

Reference being now had to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings in detail, 1 is the hydraulic cylinder, and l2 the supply-tank therefor. As shown in these gures of the drawings, both cylinder and tank are horizontally arranged and the .latter is supported above and upon the former by means of brackets or standards 3. The relative location and arrangement of these parts may, however., be materially varied from that shown. The tank is provided with a small air-inlet pipe 4, in which is located a check-valve 5, which may be of ordinary construction. A pipe 6 extends from one end of the tank 2 and a similar pipe 7 projects from the lower side of the corresponding end of the cylinder l.

4 is -a pipe leading from the upper portion of the cylinder l to the upper portion of the tank 2 in order to conduct from the former to the latter any air which may be drawn into 'the cylinder by the reciprocation of its piston. This pipe will also preferably be provided with a stop-valve, (not showm) as is usual in such relations. The pipe 6 is counected by means of an elbow-pipe S to the top of a valve-box or hollow casting 9. This valve-box is divided by means of a partition 10 and a cylinder 1l, so as to form two passages 12 and 13. The cylinder 11 is provided approximately midway of its length with a series of circumferentially-arran ged openings 14. Located in the cylinder 11 and closely fitting its interior is a piston-valve 15 of sufcient length to cover the openings 14 when in a central position, and thus preclude any iiow of water therethrough. This pistonvalve l5 is provided with a stem or rod 16, which extends through a suitable stuffing-box in a removable head 17, which forms one side of the valve-box 9. The head 17 is provided with a tubular extension 18, having near its outer end suitable bearings for a shaft 19. Upon the outer end of this shaft 19 is rigidly mounted a Wheel 20, and upon its inner end is mounted a pinion 2l. The shaft 19 is also provided with a pinion 22, which is located between the wheel 2O and the adjacent side of the extension 18. The stem or rod 16 is provided for a portion of its length with a rack 23, which meshes with the pinion 2l, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The lower side of the valve-box 9 is provided with an opening which communicates with a pipe 24. This pipe 24 joins at its lower end and forms a part of an approximately annular casting 25. This casting 25 is provided with removable heads 26, each of which has a tubular extension 26. The casing thus formed is provided with a cylinder 27., which has a large opening or port at each side and is provided at its top and bottom with gui'de-iianges 28, which move in suitable guideways 29 in the casing. c This vertical movement of the cylinder 27 is rendered possible by reason of the fact that its external diameter is considerably less than that of the interior of the casing.

A rod or stem 30 is connected to the upper guide-ange 28 of the cylinder 27 and projects from the upper side of the casing through a stuffing-box, as shown. The upper end of this rod or stem 30 has pivoted to it one end of a bell-crank lever 31. This bell-crank lever is pivotally supported upon the framework of the apparatus and is provided at its outer end with a seg-mental rack 32, which meshes with pinion '22 on shaft 19. Located inside the cylinder 27 is a hollow drum 33, preferably bolted at its respective ends to the solid heads 33', which respectively form integral parts of the shafts 34 and 34. These heads are located in the tubular extensions 26',and bearing-rollers 33",mounted in frames or cages 33"', are interposed between the parts 26l and 33', as shown in Fig. 5. The drum 33 is provided with a plurality of slots, seven being shown in the drawings, in which are mounted piston blades or paddles 36 of such dimensions -as to closely iit the slots and slide freely therein when the cylinder 27 is moved transversely. These piston-blades, the number of which may be varied as desired, all

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bear at their inner ends against a pair of rings 35 and are provided at their outer ends with heads 37, these heads having their outer faces curved to lit the inner surface of the cylinder 27 and being preferably pivoted to the main portions of the blades. It will be readily understood that solid cylinders might be employed in lieu of therings 35, but their greater weight renders them less desirable. It will be readily seen from this construction that when the cylinder 27 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 3, so that it is concentric with the casing and with the drum 33, the slides 36 will all project an equal distance outside the drum 33, and that if the cylinder be moved to its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 5, it will be eccentric to the drum and the eccentricity will be the reverse of that shown in Fig. 3. The side of the casting 25, opposite to that communicating with the pipe 24, projects in the form of a pipe 33, which is joined to the pipe 7, leading to the hydraulic cylinder.

Vith the exception of certain minor structural details the pump above described forms the subject-matter of Patent No. 550,466, granted to me November 26, 1895. This pump may be used without the cooperating piston-valve above'described, if desired; but I prefer to employ the valve and thus absolutely insure the cutting off of all flow of Water when the elevator is at rest independently of the pump.

39 is ahead rigidly fastenedto the outer end of the shaft 34 and provided with lugs 40, to which are pivoted arms 41, the outer ends of these arms being connected by a coiled spring 42. The inner end of each arm 41 is provided with a brake-shoe 43, these brake-shoes being so located and arranged as to bear against a stationary ring 44, mounted uponone of the heads 26 of the pump or other stationary part of the apparatus. The outer end of the shaft 34 is preferably provided with a belt-pulley 45 in order that power may be transmitted to the pump by means of a belt from any suitable motor. It will be understood, however, that the driving-motor may be coupled directly to the shaft, if desired.

A plurality of sheave-wheels 46 are mounted on suitable bearings at the pump end of the apparatus, these sheave-Wheels 46 being provided with grooved peripheries for the reception of the cables or ropes 47, by means of which the elevator is raised. Each sheavewheel is provided with two peripheral grooves,

since a pair of ropes or cables is employed for operating the elevator.

48 is the piston, which is moved back and forth in the cylinder 1 by hydraulic pressure, and 49 is the piston rod or stem, the outer end of this piston-rod being provided with a cross-head 50, having two arms 50 in the same horizontal plane, the outer ends of which are connected by a shaft on which are sheave- Wheels 51 similar to the Wheels 46. Only one of the supporting-arms 50 is shown in the drawings, but the other arm, which is in the same horizontal plane, is exactly like the one shown. These arms 50 are supported and guided by means of small wheels or rollers 52, which move upon horizontal tracks 52', one at each side of the apparatus. The cables 47 are guided and partially supported above and below the cylinder 1 by means of guiding-sheaves 53, one for each turn of the rope. The inner lower ends of the ropes or cables 47 extend through slots in a lug 54 at one end of the cylinder and have fastened to them clamping-blocks 55. The ropes extend from these clamps back and forth over and around the wheels 46 and 51, over the guiding and supporting sheaves 56, and thence to the top of the elevator-car 57.

58 is the usual controlling-rope, which is supported and guided by the sheaves 59, 60, and 61, and passes around the wheel 20. A rod 62 is attached at one end to the bell-crank lever 31, and is supported in suitable guides 63, so as to be readily movable longitudinally. This rod is provided with stops 64 and 65, with which the cross-head 50 or a projection 66 thereon engages when the piston 4S reaches the respective ends of its stroke in order to move the lever 3l to its middle position and thus stop the elevator.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, 67 are vertical supply-tanks, and 68 the corresponding cylinders, respectively supplied with water therefrom by means of pipes or conduits 69. The pumps 70 are like those hereinbefore described, and in Fig. 6 their shafts are shown as connected end to end by means of flexible couplings 7l, so that all may be driven together by means of a directly-coupled electric motor 72.

In Fig. 7 the construction and arrangement of the apparatus are the same as in Fig. 6 eX- cept that the motor 72 drives a shaft 73, which in turn drives the pump-shafts by means of pulleys 74 and 75 and belts 7G.

It Will be readily understood from the foregoing description that the number of elevator-cars which may be operated and independently controlled will be equal to the num ber of pumps employed and that a maximum starting torque is always available by reason of the fact that the motor which drives the pump-shafts may be constantly rotated at a speed which will give a maximum degree of eiiiciency.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Assuming that the several parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, all colnmunication between the tank 2 and the cylinder 1 is cut off by the piston-valve 15, which closes the openings 14. In this position it will be observed that the pinions 21 and 22 are at the middle of the respective racks which mesh therewith, and that the cylinder 27 ofthe pump will be concentric With the drum 33, although these features of the pump are not shown in Fig. 2. In this position of the cyl- Ico IIO

inder 27 a like amount of fluid is inclosed between each adjacent pair of pump-blades, and therefore as much water is pumped in one direction as in the other. The piston 48 is consequently held stationary. If now the wheel 2O be turned by means of the rope 58 or otherwise, so as to move the valve-piston inwardly, the lever 31 will be moved at the same time by means of its rack 32 and pinion 22 to raise the cylinder. As soon as the piston-valve 15 has been moved sufficiently to uncover a portion of the openings 14 and the cylinder 27 has at the same time been raised sufficiently to make it slightly eccentric to the drum 33 the water will be pumped from the tank through the valve-box 9 by way of the passage 13, through the cylinder 11 and the openings 14, and into the cylinder 1 behind its piston 48, it being assumed, of course, that the pump-shaft and drum are rotated constantly in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 3. If the `cylinder 27 is only slightly eccentric to the drum 23, there will be only a small volume of water pumped into the cylinder 1, and consequently its piston will be moved very slowly. lf the wheel 2O be turned, however, a farther distance in the same direction, the openings 14 will be gradually uncovered and the eccentricity of the cylinder of the pump will be increased, thus producing an increased flow of water into the cylinder l until the maximum degree of eccentricity is attained, when the maximum speed of the elevator will be secured.

If it is desired to stop the elevator, it is merely necessary to reverse the wheel 20, thus bringing the piston-valve 15 back to its middle position and the cylinder 27 into its concentric position with reference to the drum 33. This may be done quickly .or gradually, as may be desired, since the adjustment is very simple and easily made. If now the reverse movement is desired, which will result in the descent of the elevator, the wheel 20 is turned still farther in the reverse direction, which will move the pistonvalve 15 outwardly and the cylinder of the pump 27 downwardly. In these positions of the ap paratus, as will be readily understood, the waterv will be pumped from the cylinder 1 through the openings 14 and the passage 12 at the left of the valve-box 9 and into the tank 2.

The operation of the brake mechanism will be understood without further description, it being apparent that when the speed of the shaft 34 is normal there will be no pressure of the brake-shoes 23 upon the drum or ring 44. If, however, the shaft rotates with sufficient speed to cause the outer ends of the arms 41 to overcome the tension of the spring 42, the shoes 43 will bear upon the drum or ring 44, as is usual in brake apparatus, and thus keep the speed of the pump within the desired limits. With the arrangement of the supply-tank shown in the drawings it is to be assumed that it is not entirely filled with water. When the cylinder 1 is emptied and the elevator-car is in its lowest position,`the body of air above the water in the tank 2 may be under any desired pressure sufficient to give the necessary counterbalance to the car and supporting-ropes. As the car ascends and the water is pumped from the tank into the cylinder it is apparent that the air will be expanded to fill the additional space and that less pressure will therefore be exerted upon the water. The difference in pressure between the extreme limits which is necessary to afford the proper counterbalance is approximately fifteen pounds to the square inch. Thesame result may be obtained by so proportioning and locating the tank that the column of water therein shall provide the necessary dierence in pressure, as has already been stated; but I prefer the air-pressure chiefly on account of the provision which is thus made for a compact arrangement of the parts of the apparatus.

As the volume of water decreases in the tank and the air expands sufficiently the valve 5 will open and sufficient air will flow in to keep the volume above the water in the tank sufficient for the counterbalancing purposes above described. Any descending movement of the elevator, however, will cause compression of the air in the tank, and this air-pressure will act to close the valve 5 in the usual manner.

From the foregoing illustration and description it will be understood that the drum of the pump is rotated constantly in one direction and that it has avariable capacity-that is to say, it will pump from the smallest quantity to its maximum in either direction, depending upon the position of the adjustable cylinder with reference to the drum. It will also be noted that the column of water between the tank and the pump is ashort one and that when the wheelv 2O is moved it will be impossible for the water to flow in the direction of the cylinder any faster than the pump will deliver it-in otherwords,the pump must turn in order to let any water through it, and the quantity of water which passes through is variable. When the car descends with a load, the water from the cylinder, discharging toward the tank, acts upon the paddles of the pump-drum, so as to make the pump a motor, thereby assisting to turn the general motor from which it receives its motion. It thus follows that when two or more elevators are in constant use the power from a descending car may be utilized to assist in lifting an ascending car. The pump may be driven bya motor coupled directly to one end of its shaft or by a belt from an engine or electric motor, and its maximum capacity in either direction may be limited by regulating the stroke of the movable cylinder.

When two or more elevators are operated in the same building, the pump-shafts may be connected and driven together or they may roo IIO

be driven by belting from a common shaft, which in turn may be driven by a single motor of any kind. lf operated electrically, each pump may be driven by a separate motor, if desired, all of such motors receiving current from a single generator.

I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the details of construction shown and described, since these may be variously modified Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with a hydraulic cylinder and piston and a supply-tank, of means for connecting the piston with an elevator-car, a cut-off and reversing valve and a rotary eccentric-piston pump between said tank and cylinder and a single actuating means for moving said valve and varying the eccentricity of said pump.

2. The combination with a cylinder and its piston, of a supply-tank connected with said cylinder, a rotary eccentric-piston pump and a cutoiE valve between said tank and cylinder and means operated by the piston-at the ends of its stroke for actuating said valve and pump to stop the ilow of water between the tank and cylinder.

3. The combination with a cylinder and its reciprocating piston,a supply-tank connected with said cylinder, and a pump comprisinga casing, a rotatable drum provided with sliding piston-blades, and a transversely -movable cylinder, of means actuated by the reciproeating piston at each end of its stroke to move said cylinder into a position concentric with said drum.

Il. The combination with an elevator-car, a hydraulic cylinder, its piston, and sheaves and ropes for transmitting motion from said piston to said car, of a supply-tank for said cylinder, a conduit, a rotarypump and acutoft and reversing valve in said conduit and means for simultaneously adjusting the pump-cylinder and the cut-oli and reversing valve, whereby the direction of movement and speed of the elevator-car are controlled.

5. 4The combination with a hydraulic cylinder and its piston, a supply-tank and a conduit between the same and the cylinder, of a rotary pump and a cut-off valve in said conduit, gearing between said valve and the cylinder of said pump and means for operating said gearing whereby the eccentricity of the pump-cylinder and the position of the cutoi`1c valve may be simultaneously varied.

6. The combination with a hydraulic cylinder and its piston, of means for connecting the piston with an elevator-car, a pump for forcing water into said cylinder comprising a casing, a transversely-movable cylinder and a drum provided with piston-slides located therein, a cut-ott valve and means for simultaneously moving the cut-off valve and the pump-cylinder.

7. The combination with a hydraulic cylinder and its piston, of a pump having atransversely-adjustable cylinder, a rotatable drum and piston-slides, a conduit leading from one side of the pump-casing to the hydraulic cylinder, a supply-conduit connected to the opposite side of the pump-casing, a cut-off valve in the latter conduit and means for simultaneously moving said valve and the pump-cylinder.

S. A rotary pump or motor comprising a rotatable drum provided with piston-slides, atransversely-movable cylinder surrounding said drum and piston-slides, a casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve for closing one of said ports and a connection between said valve and the transversely-movable cylinder whereby a movement of the latter toa position concentric with its drum closes the port and movement to an eccentric position in either direction opens the port.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23d day of December, A. D. 1895.

GEO. VESTINGI-IOUSE, JR.

Vitnessess WESLEY G. CARR, HUBERT C. TENER. 

